The number of healthcare assistants employed within the NHS has risen in accord with policies supporting the growth and increasing scope of practice of the assistant workforce. Healthcare assistants are a vital component of the community nursing team. This article presents an overview of findings of a National Institute for Health Research funded study into the roles of community nursing assistants (at bands 2, 3 and 4) working in community nursing provider organisations in England. The findings are based on national workforce data and the experiences and perceptions of senior managers, service leads and caseload holders, who employ or work directly with community nursing assistants to provide adult services nursing care.